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Zen Chants: Thirty-Five Essential Texts with Commentary

Zen Chants Tanahashi, Kazuaki/ Nagase, Mitsue (Photographer)

An introduction to Zen chanting practice, with new accurate and chantable translations of the texts used in Zen centers and monasteries throughout the English-speaking world by the renowned translator of Dogen and Ryokan. A Zen chant is like a compass that sets us in the direction of the awakened life; it is the dynamic, audible counterpart to the silent practice of zazen, or sitting meditation; and it is a powerful expression of the fact that practice happens in community. Here is a concise guide to Zen chants for practitioners, as well as for anyone who appreciates the beauty and profundity of the poetry in dharma. An introduction to the practice is followed by fresh and carefully considered translations and adaptations of thirty-five chants some common and others less well known along with illuminating commentary."

The audio tracks presented here are a selection from Part One, “The Daily Chants,” and Part Two, “Chants for Events,” of the book Zen Chants: Thirty-five Essential Texts with Commentary by Kazuaki Tanahashi. These audio files were edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi, produced by Karuna Tanahashi, and mixed and mastered by Alex Platt.

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A Zen chant is like a compass that sets us in the direction of the awakened life; it is the dynamic, audible counterpart to the silent practice of , or sitting meditation; and it is a powerful expression of the fact that practice happens in community. Here is a concise guide to Zen chants for practitioners, as well as for anyone who appreciates the beauty and profundity of the poetry in dharma. An introduction to the practice is followed by fresh and carefully considered translations and adaptations of thirty-five chants—some common and others less well known—along with illuminating commentary.